Activities of Periostin and Inteleukin-13 among Asthma Patients in Comparison with Healthy people in Southern India

Abstract

Background and objectives: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease which requires biomarkers that reflect refractoriness to conventional therapy with inhalational steroids. Periostin is an extracellular matrix protein that is secreted in the airway epithelium, in response to stimulation by Interleukin -13 (IL-13). IL-13 is a cytokine that mediates airway inflammation following the Type 2 immune response. Both these biomarkers can be used to signify type 2 inflammatory response, which reflects steroid hypo-responsiveness in asthmatics. The objectives of the study were to: 1. Obtain the reference value of serum Periostin and IL-13 levels in healthy south Indian adult population 2. To compare the reference range of Periostin and IL-13 with that of the asthmatics on inhalational corticosteroids. Methodology: The study was carried out among 50 asthmatics and 50 healthy volunteers aged between 25 to 65 years. After procuring the informed consent, the Pulmonary Function test assessment was done to recruit the study subjects. The blood sample was collected for assessment of Serum Periostin and IL-13. Results: The median (IQR) baseline level of Serum Periostin among control group and in asthmatics was 13.2 (8.8-28.1) ng/ml and 16.7 (10.9-20.7) respectively. Also, the median (IQR) baseline level of Serum IL-13 among healthy individuals and among asthmatics was 42.9 (37.8-52.4) pg/ml and 73.5 (60.0-91.1) pg/ml respectively, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: The obtained baseline values of Serum IL-13 and Periostin could be of clinical utility in asthmatics. The validity of the data obtained from this study can be tested out on larger study populations.